Illegal waste disposal continues to be a key focus area for Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) with State Government funding of $7.5 million guaranteeing the program until 2018.
EPA Chief Executive Officer Nial Finegan said the program would continue to focus on large scale and systemic illegal dumping of industrial waste.
The Illegal Dumping Strike Force program has been running since 2010 and has successfully met all its targets including:
- conducting 235 inspections of illegal dumping
- issuing 292 notices for the illegal dumping of solid waste
- prosecuting 17 organisations with fines exceeding $650,000 in costs awarded
- issuing 29 Penalty Infringement Notices, with a total penalty imposed of more than $151,425
The Illegal Waste Disposal Program is now focusing on:
- stockpiling of tyres
- quarries
- interstate movement of waste
- commercial and domestic illegal dumping of wastes
- continued compliance and enforcement action for high risk illegal dumping sites.
Mr Finegan said EPA was also working closely with other co-regulators and jurisdictions to gain further knowledge and intelligence as well as drive behavior change in order to tackle illegal dumping.
“The illegal dumping of industrial waste is criminal behaviour that threatens our environment and undermines licensed waste operators,” Mr Finegan said.
“We urge members of the public to report illegal dumping of commercial, industrial or large-scale waste on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or using EPA’s online reporting form.”